Grad Party Ideas

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Can you tell I'm getting in the party mood? Actually, I'm taking a break from helping my youngest son with his 5th grade state float...don't worry, he's doing 90% of the work. I'm just providing ideas and showing him how to implement them.Yep, it's 10 PM on a Friday night and we had a busy evening...First, a band concert, then we went to Rita's for Italian Ice and now back at the house constructing a float. I'm such a socialite!
I'm beat, so I did what any good mom would do...grabbed a glass of wine and headed over to Pinterest to stir my creativity and plan for my graduating senior's upcoming party. He's taking a gap year to work and travel the world before he heads to college the following year so, I'm going with a travel theme. Here are some cool ideas I may use:

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I love the idea of using vintage suitcases...so, cool.

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And, the map banner? I'm doing it!

The Post It note on brown paper (below) is kind of cool, but I think the Post Its might fall off in the humid Maryland air, so, I'll probably do a variation.

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 And, these ...well, they ROCK! Okay, enough wine. I need some sleep.

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Ideas for a Baseball Themed Party

I promised I would show you a few more pictures of the teacher's appreciation luncheon we hosted last week...so, here they are. You could use these ideas when planning any baseball or sports themed party-- whether it be for kids or adults.
To add height to the back of the tabletop, my friend Wendy used little plastic baskets from the dollar store turned upside down and covered them with a tablecloth. They not only added interest, but provided a resting spot for the cold drinks and bins of peanuts.

Speaking of peanuts, another mom created these graphics for our school "team."

I love the "ice cold" sign she made, too...

And, here's a simple centerpiece...fill a large glass vase or ice bucket with baseballs...you could substitute golf or tennis balls if you need a different theme. Or use the popcorn holder centerpiece!

And finally, here's a better view of the concession sign my friend Victoria made...I love the detail. It's on poster board, but it looks like a chalk board (even in real life).

That's it. I'm currently working on ideas for my son's graduation party...too bad he doesn't play baseball...

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Between Naps on the Porch Tablescape Thursday

May Flowers on the Front Porch

On Mother's Day I took advantage of the beautiful spring day and planted my window boxes. I am impatient and want them to overflow with color (maybe that's why I planted impatiens..hee, hee!)


I dragged out my antique rocking chair and plopped in a big pot of red New Guinea impatiens to match my newly painted bright red front door (which you can't even see behind my screen door). My house number pots are looking a little worn...I'm thinking I may have to re-invent them by next spring.

Some Cool Photos

It's almost Mom's Day and like a proud mom, I'm going to share some cool photos my son took at school. Oh, and my other son had his photography in an art show at our local mall (can't show you those, since they are still at the mall). The youngest hasn't really got into photography just yet, but he's a cool kid, too.
I do love being a mom...my life has been so enriched by these unique and wonderful human beings. Each one is so different and they have taken me to places I never imagined. Thanks boys. I love you all.

And, to all you moms out there, Happy Mother's Day!

What I've Been Doing (Good ideas, too)

I see a light at the end of the tunnel! My custom orders are almost finished...just got another one the other day, but that's manageable. The above photo is my dining room in the midst of all my projects. Notice the stack of wood blocks waiting to be sanded and primed for orders. Warning: there are a lot of photos, but some good ideas in this post (I've been saving them all up)!

Teacher's appreciation lunch was a grand slam success thanks to the help of some very ambitious and creative ladies, see below. My friend Wendy got a bunch of great ideas off of Pinterest. One was to create a concession stand for the teachers in their lunch room. My other friend, Victoria, made the banner and concession sign and another mom created all the graphics to use on the popcorn and peanut baggies. We also had Big League Chew and Cracker Jacks...of course! I took these with my iPhone during set up...I'll try to post the finished pictures if I can get some from Wendy.

We served hot dogs, sauerkraut and salads for lunch. With baseball cake for dessert...we went through FIVE cakes!

Wendy made the centerpieces for the tables...the popcorn holders are filled with peanuts!

I also finished my prom breakfast signs. The theme is luau, but it's a secret so, don't tell any seniors. NOTE: Acrylic paint works much better than markers on foam board. I created each sign to look like wood boards nailed together, then painted various Hawaiian symbols, finally finishing with a dry brush to make each sign look, well, hand painted! Seriously, corn dogs, quesadillas and Rita's ice for breakfast? Whatever.

And, now I'm on to planning my son's graduation party between working, parenting and attending field trips. Whew!

Need a Break

Okay gang...taking a little blog break ... right now,  I have a total of six custom orders (yippee), and I'm creating six signs for the prom breakfast, running a teacher's luncheon next week, making two posters for teacher's appreciation week, planning upcoming high school graduation party, ordering graduation announcements, not to mention work, kids and sports, two field trips, and two recitals...all in the next two weeks ... umm, yeah. Wish me luck.

Fun with Fleurs and Old World Plaster!

It's about time I posted something  art/home decor related so, here goes. I made a bunch of old world plaster blocks a while ago when I was creating my key holders. I had fun coming up with new ways to use them. In this one, I distressed it slightly and stamped it with architectural stamps to really give it an old world feel. I added the fleur de lis for a final touch! This one (below) has one of my favorite sayings on it and I added little grommets and some crystals for the flowers. I created one like this before and sold it, but this time I'm giving it to a friend.

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